Fired blank injures woman at Upstate VFD

Published: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:57 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:57 a.m.

An Arkwright Volunteer Fire Department member has been suspended after shrapnel from a blank he fired struck a Woodruff woman who was visiting the fire department.

Arkwright Fire Department Chief James Owens said guns are prohibited at the fire station, and Cody Roberts has been suspended for an undisclosed period of time while an investigation is conducted by Arkwright officials. Owens said Roberts, 23, is one of the newer members of the volunteer staff.

An 18-year-old Woodruff woman told Spartanburg County authorities she and some friends were hanging out in the bay area of the fire department when she felt a pain in her right leg and noticed that Roberts, 23, had fired a pistol into the floor. She said she noticed her leg was bleeding, bandaged the wound and drove home. The woman said her mother then took her to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment. The incident report states the woman had a shell casing for a .38 bullet with her.

Maj. Dan Johnson with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said the incident is being looked at but is believed to be a "total accident."

Johnson said there was nothing malicious about the incident but Roberts was handling the gun "in a very negligent way" and authorities were told the shot was fired "supposedly to scare some people."

The woman signed a waiver of investigation, meaning she does not want the incident investigated as a crime and does not want to press charges.

The woman told authorities she and some friends were hanging out at the fire department about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The woman said she was talking to a friend and messing with a cell phone when she felt the pain in her leg.

<p>An Arkwright Volunteer Fire Department member has been suspended after shrapnel from a blank he fired struck a Woodruff woman who was visiting the fire department.</p><p>Arkwright Fire Department Chief James Owens said guns are prohibited at the fire station, and Cody Roberts has been suspended for an undisclosed period of time while an investigation is conducted by Arkwright officials. Owens said Roberts, 23, is one of the newer members of the volunteer staff.</p><p>An 18-year-old Woodruff woman told Spartanburg County authorities she and some friends were hanging out in the bay area of the fire department when she felt a pain in her right leg and noticed that Roberts, 23, had fired a pistol into the floor. She said she noticed her leg was bleeding, bandaged the wound and drove home. The woman said her mother then took her to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment. The incident report states the woman had a shell casing for a .38 bullet with her.</p><p>Maj. Dan Johnson with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office said the incident is being looked at but is believed to be a "total accident."</p><p>Johnson said there was nothing malicious about the incident but Roberts was handling the gun "in a very negligent way" and authorities were told the shot was fired "supposedly to scare some people."</p><p>The woman signed a waiver of investigation, meaning she does not want the incident investigated as a crime and does not want to press charges.</p><p>The woman told authorities she and some friends were hanging out at the fire department about 7:30 p.m. Monday.</p><p>The woman said she was talking to a friend and messing with a cell phone when she felt the pain in her leg.</p>